well as with alot of auto punch i have done in the past you can tell were the punch is done the sounds dont match up there is maybe not a click but a distinct noticable over lap or space where the sounds dont meet. some machines do better punches then others so was wondering how well the punches are on the model 16.
@Blue Monster 65 (as usual) is 100% correct.
The machine itself (that is to say, a transparent machine of any type, analog or digital) does not create any noise of its own. It will not create a click or a pop in the audio. yet, we engineers talk about "punch marks" on our recordings.
Punching is an art form. It has to do with the precise location of the punch point, and
the delay for the machine to enter record mode is a crucial factor in this timing. In the 80's the 2 machines I found to be the fastest were the 3M M79 (the machine used to record Bohemian Rhapsody) and (of course) the Studer A80.
My DP-32 is capable of flawless punch-ins
if I do it right. I had to learn (by feel) the delay it takes for the machine to punch in after I hit the button. By far the best method with these digital machines is auto-punch because you can do it with surgical precision. Attempt to set up the autopunch to come in at a high impulse point - that is to say just at the precise moment when you hit a guitar chord, or a key on the keyboard. If, upon playback you hear the punch, simply press
UNDO and nudge the punch-in point earlier or later and do it again (small moves!). Observe the results. Keep doing it until you get it as transparent as possible. And please keep in mind that a punch mark that can be heard when
soloed is a lot less likely to be heard in the mix, so don't beat yourself up over a soloed punch mark. Try to monitor as close to the final mix conditions as your production environment will allow.
(I have the mulitracks for one of the world's most famous bands and you can definitely hear punch marks on the tracks when they are soloed - but they sound amazing in the mix)
Pro tip: When you are doing a punch-in
play along with the track before the punch in point. This way, all the ringing of the instrument, and any room reverb/FX tails will be generated in the same way as the current recorded performance.
This is especially important if you are singing vocals. If you punch in a vocal track and the room reverb is missing you will hear a distinct difference! If you start singing or playing at the exact point the machine engages the Record function, you will notice a difference. The room reverb/FX and harmonic content from the ringing of the previous chords or voice in the room won't be there. Yours Truly has punched in 7 tracks of acoustic drums (live played of course) in the middle of a song on 24 track analog and the punch was invisible. But I had the drummer play the tune from the head so that when I punched in, the room was alive with the drum sounds just as they were on the previous performance.
Go for it! Have no fear. The machine can UNDO anything with a single button press.